Acute cervical spine injury.

ABSTRACT

Ninety eight patients with cervical spine trauma were analysed. They were 78 males and 20 females ranging in age from 6 to 78 years with an average of 35.4 years. These patients were admitted into Siriraj Hospital during 1977 to 1984. The automobile accident appeared to be the most common cause of cervical spine injury, found in approximately 63% of the cases. The cases of cervical spine trauma were classified on the basis of mechanism of injury and all these patients had radiographic examinations which were studied in detail. Flexion type of injury was found in 42% of the patients had was the most common type of injury. Cervicocranial injuries were found in 29% of the patients and were the next most common occurrence. Vertebral body and vertebral arch were the most frequent sites of the injury while the distribution of the injuries by the level tended to occur quite commonly in lower cervical segments. Among these patients, there were 69 patients (70%) with neurological deficit. Radiographic feature of all types of cervical spine injuries is discussed in detail and the useful radiographic examination of the cervical spine in the emergency room is recommended.